Regulator profile · VU
VFSC — Vanuatu Financial Services Commission
Tracked byBrokerlist Editorial · Independent review teamUpdated
The Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) is the integrated regulator for non-banking financial services in Vanuatu, including offshore companies, securities dealers, mutual funds and limited domestic banking. VFSC issues a Class 2 (Foreign Exchange Trading) Securities Dealer Licence widely used by offshore retail FX and CFD brokers — particularly in the 2015-2020 era before some firms migrated to Seychelles or Mauritius.
Brokers in Vanuatu accepting residents under VFSC- Jurisdiction
- Republic of Vanuatu.
- Founded
- 1993
- Mandate
- Established under the Financial Services Commission Act. VFSC supervises International Companies, Securities Dealers (Classes 1 and 2), Mutual Funds, and other financial-sector entities. AML/CFT compliance follows FATF-aligned standards; Vanuatu was on FATF's public grey list 2016-2018 and exited following framework reforms.
- Consumer protection
- No statutory retail-investor compensation scheme. Client-funds segregation is required under VFSC dealer rules. Conduct supervision is materially less intensive than tier-1 jurisdictions — VFSC enforcement focuses primarily on AML/CFT and licence-condition compliance rather than retail-customer redress.
- Retail leverage caps
- No statutory leverage cap. VFSC-licensed brokers typically offer retail leverage of 1:500 to 1:2000 — among the most permissive globally. Suitability and risk-disclosure rules apply but enforcement is conduct-based and light.
- Public register
- VFSC publishes lists of licensed entities by category. Verify the broker's claimed registration number against the Securities Dealer Class 2 licence list specifically — older "company registry only" entries are not the same as actively-licensed dealers. Open register ↗
- Dispute resolution
- No independent ombudsman with binding powers. Complaints first go through firm internal processes, then can be referred to VFSC's Enforcement Department. Vanuatu courts are the ultimate recourse — practical remedy depends on local civil-procedure realities.
- Editor notes
- Vanuatu was one of the most popular offshore broker jurisdictions in the 2015-2020 period; many brokers have since migrated to Seychelles (FSA) or Mauritius (FSC) for slightly better reputational standing. VFSC remains active for crypto-friendly offshore licensing. Treat a Vanuatu-only license as offshore — limited consumer recourse compared to FCA, ASIC or FSC Mauritius equivalents.
Brokers we track with a VFSC licence
No brokersNo tracked broker currently holds a VFSC licence in our database.